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| An E-Newsletter from the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
June 2015
| Volume VII Number 6 |
 Welcome!
Welcome to the June edition of E-vangelist, a monthly E-Newsletter from the Communications Office of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. This is a month of significant celebrations. Catholic Charities recently honored seven worthy individuals during its annual Recognition Dinner. The Independent Catholic Foundation for the Diocese and Garvey Manor Nursing Home are marking milestone anniversaries. The annual Faith Day celebration is also right around the corner. As we prepare for the annual Fortnight for Freedom observance, we join with Catholics and others around our great country in praying for the preservation of our religious freedom. May the Lord bless and protect us during these wonderful summer months as we come together in prayer and celebration.
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Coming up in the
June 29 , 2015, edition of The Catholic Register:
- Coverage of Pope Francis' encyclical "Laudato Si."
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Bishop Mark Bartchak's upcoming Guests on Keeping the Faith, a weekly segment on Proclaim!:
June 21 -- On this Father's Day, Brian Basile of Resurrection Parish in Johnstown, talks about the joys and challenges of being a dad.
June 28 -- Bill Hiergeist, Executive Director of the Independent Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, joins Bishop Mark to celebrate the Foundation's 25th Anniversary.
July 5 -- Kathleen Spargo, a member of Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Everett and 2015 Prince Gallitzin Cross recipient, talks about her ministry in the parish.
July 12 -- Our "People from the Pew" series spotlights siblings Diane Moyer and Donna Spanik, members of Saint Joan of Arc Parish in Frugality.
Proclaim! airs every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on WWCP TV FOX 8 and is rebroadcast on the Altoona Public Access Channel (Channel 14 on Atlantic Broadband) at 9:30 p.m. The live Mass from Saint John Gualbert Cathedral in Johnstown airs at 11:00 a.m. on WWCP and is rebroadcast at 9:00 p.m. on Atlantic Broadband Channel 9 in the Altoona area.
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Watch "Answering the Call" every Sunday at 9:00 p.m. on the Altoona Public Access Channel 14 in the Central Blair County area.
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Fortnight for Freedom 
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will once again sponsor a Fortnight for Freedom June 21-July 4. The theme will be "Freedom to Bear Witness." As always, the Fortnight comes at a time when the Catholic Church celebrates some of the great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of political persecution including Saint Thomas More and Saint John Fisher, Saint John the Baptist, Saints Peter and Paul, and the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome.
In observance of the Fortnight, Bishop Mark will preside at a Holy Hour on June 25 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona. All are invited to join the Bishop in prayer for the protection of our religious liberty. For more information about Fortnight for Freedom 2015, including special prayer resources, please visit the Diocesan website at www.dioceseaj.org.
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 Faith Day 2015
The annual Diocesan Faith Day will be held on June 28 at DelGrosso's Amusement Park in Tipton. A highlight of the day will be Mass celebrated by Bishop Mark at 3:00 p.m. on the park stage. A picnic supper will be served at 5:00 p.m. in Pavilion 2. You must pre-order a meal ticket for the picnic. The deadline is June 22. For an order form and vouchers for discounted Ride 'n Slide passes, please visit our Diocesan website at www.dioceseaj.org. No registration is necessary to join us for Mass and to enjoy the park.
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 Catholic Charities Recognition Dinner
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown honored several individuals for their selfless and outstanding service at its annual Recognition Dinner on June 3 at the Blair County Convention Center. The following were recipients of the Monsignor William M. Griffin Humanitarian Award:
- Janet Criste - Our Mother of Sorrows Parish
- David Greene - Saint Peter Parish
- Mercedes and Nicholas Smith - Saint Benedict Parish, Johnstown
Three students received the Matthew 25 Youth Humanitarian Award:
- Olivia McCafferty - Saints Peter and Paul Parish
- Nikolas Suckinos - Saint Francis Xavier Parish
- Ashton Truby - Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
"The seven people receiving awards tonight understand what service means, and I thank them," said Bishop Mark in his remarks at the dinner. "We are blessed to have those who recognize the mission of Catholic Charities." [Photo (left to right): Janet Criste; David Greene; Jean Johnstone, Executive Director of Catholic Charities; Mercedes Smith; Bishop Mark; Nicholas Smith.]
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 Jubilarian Dinner
Bishop Mark hosted a dinner earlier this month to salute the religious in our Diocese marking milestone anniversaries this year. Pictured on the left is Father Daniel Sinisi, TOR, celebrating 55 years. Joining the Bishop on the right is the Very Rev. Anthony Francis Spilka, OFM Conv., the Bishop's Vicar for Religious. Also marking anniversaries are Father Michael Gerald Francis Gordon, TOR, and Brother Edward Bennett, TOR, both celebrating 50 years. Congratulations to the jubilarians!
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 Outdoor Masses
A summer tradition has returned to the Diocese. Father Matthew Reese, Diocesan Director of Vocations, pictured on the right, celebrates Mass on Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m. at the Our Lady of the Alleghenies Shrine in Loretto. Mass intentions are for an increase in vocations in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. Liturgies will be celebrated every Sunday evening through Labor Day weekend. Bring your own lawn chair. In the event of rain, Mass will be celebrated inside the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel. |
 Annual Catholic Appeal
The Annual Catholic Appeal has been an early success for 36 parishes that have exceeded their goals. Although they are too numerous to recognize individually in this space, the Development Office publishes a weekly parish-by-parish report on the "Diocesan Mailing" page at www.dioceseaj.org. We also continue to receive Prayer Intentions, which are being reflected upon individually as well as being remembered at Masses celebrated in the Diocese's Administration Center Chapel. Your Annual Catholic Appeal gift first benefits your parish (by being applied toward its goal) before Diocesan ministries help people of all ages "Discover and Rediscover what is Good, Beautiful and True with Jesus Christ and His Church." You may place your gift in the offertory basket or donate online at Diocese's website listed above. Thank you!
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 Foundation Anniversary
The Independent Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this June. The Foundation began as a dream and vision in 1989 by two Johnstown businessmen, Frank Pasquerilla and James Saly, with the full support of Bishop Joseph V. Adamec. The Foundation has grown to become an organization with 230 individual endowments that are valued at almost $26 million in assets. Guided by the 18 member Board of Trustees, the Foundation continues to serve donors by matching their philanthropic vision to the people, programs, ministries, and institutions that best serve their hope for a better community. |
 Garvey Manor Anniversary
Garvey Manor Nursing Home is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Under joint sponsorship of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown and the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged & Infirm, the primary mission of the facility is residential care and services for the elderly. The Carmelite Sisters, who serve in ministry together with professional and ancillary lay staff, strive to make their philosophy of care a vital part of everyday life at the facility. The mission "To promote and provide personal and professional quality of care and service in an atmosphere which reflects Christ's compassion, love and concern for the elderly," provides the guiding vision.
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Prayer for Vocations
Lord Jesus, I know that you love me and that you call me to follow you. Help me to listen to your call in all the ways you speak to me: through prayer and the Scriptures; through the Church; through the people who know me and love me; through the circumstances of my life; through my own hopes and desires. Guide me to search openly and carefully and to learn about life's choices, so that I may respond generously to your call and to know and embrace the vocation that will enable me to love wholeheartedly, and serve others with the gifts you have given to me. Help me to know and do your will. Thank you for your love for me and for all that the future holds for me. Lord Jesus, I put my trust in you. Amen.
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Contact Information
E-vangelist is published by the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown Office of Communications Mr. Tony DeGol Secretary for Communications 925 S. Logan Boulevard Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 (814) 695-5579 tdegol@dioceseaj.org |
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